How many stars would you give to a person who hand held you through one of the most difficult, intense, and mind blowing experiences of your life? Too bad Yelp maxes you out at only five. I knew I wanted Amber to be my doula right away, it was amazing how much at ease I felt knowing she'll be there when I need her. Months later I called Amber in a panic at 40+ weeks pregnant after my doctor mentioned induction for the first time. I always envisioned having an all natural birth and staying at home for as long as possible before transferring to a hospital, so the mention of pitocin really scared the s..t out of me. Amber calmed me down and offered to give me her magical Mayan massage. I started feeling contractions on my way home from her massage and was in full labor just hours after. Through the whole labor Amber's voice was the thin line connecting me to the reality and telling me I'm doing great. Every time I opened my eyes Amber was there, always knowing when to reassure me, when to push me, and when to keep quiet. My husband was there, ready to support me and do everything he could to help, but you really need someone with experience to guide you through l&d. Husbands cannot replace doulas!!! And if all of that was not enough Amber manages to take amazing pictures of the baby's arrival and of our first moments together as a family of three. I get to relieve that experience every time I look at the pictures now. I could not have done it without Amber, cannot recommended her enough! read more

There are people who "know their stuff" and then there is Amber. When it comes to women's health, fertility cycles, knowing your body, and feeling more grounded and empowered as a woman, you couldn't have a better person on your team than Amber. I have experienced both her Mayan Abdominal Massage and her natural fertility class, and am deeply grateful to her for both. She has taught me so much about how to look after my own reproductive health in a way that feels empowering rather than patronising. She helped me totally reframe what is possible in terms of knowing my own cycle, birth control, family planning, and acting to take control of it without hormones, devices in my body, and so on. Amber is one of my top five practitioners of all time (and I see a lot). Even if you don't understand why you might need an Abdominal Massage, or a class on your own fertility, I would advise going anyway, if you resonate with any of the following: You feel a need to take back your body from the medical model You feel grief around how you or others have treated your body in the past You want to have a baby, and want to feel more connected to your body/baby, and/or would like an unmedicated birth You have had a baby and experienced any physical/emotional discomfort during pregnancy, birth or the postpartum time You want to feel witnessed by your women's healthcare provider, and are not receiving that from your OBGYN or other providers You suspect that there is wisdom in your body, that you are yet to discover As you can tell, I can't say enough about how wonderful Amber is. Her work in the world is such a service to all women, and I'm so grateful she was born. read more

I am so extremely grateful to have found Amber! She is a true ally in my healing journey, and I feel like I have been searching for a womb professional like her my whole adult life. She is a wealth of knowledge, fully compassionate & curious about wherever you are in your journey. Maya massage is completely new to me, and after every appointment with Amber I leave feeling refreshed, relaxed, and like I have honored myself in a truly beautiful way by receiving this work. I also appreciate how she equips you to practice greater self care and teaches you the work so it's available to you when you need it. She is an amazing resource, and I would recommend her to any & all women, wherever you are in your life! read more

How to even put it into words! Amber is a truly unique force in the world of healing arts. She is so much more than a highly skilled practitioner- she is a wise woman in the purest sense, and her presence carries an ancient nurturing power that I am speechless to describe. Our sessions throughout my pregnancy were my touchstone in a world that is profoundly afraid of women's bodies, lending me a deep reassurance and empowerment to truly enjoy the journey, and walk into the initiation of birth with courage. I had a beautiful and powerful home birth, and I know that my time with Amber and all the amazing resources she shared with me along the way played a huge role in my experience. I'm so immensely grateful to have found her and recommend her to everyone I encounter on the path of women's reproductive health and healing. read more

My experience with Amber was amazing from the start, and I will continue to follow her practice! After reading the fertility book by Toni Weschler, I looked up for the Fertility Awareness Professionals Association and found her contact. Amber responded quickly via email and followed up with a phone call, she was pleasant to speak with and very knowledgeable. I reserved the consultation and massage within one session, during her SF visit. I learned a lot about women's health, fertility, charting method, and self-care. It was FUN! The massage session was very soothing, more than that, she taught me how to do it on my own. Amber is kind, compassionate, open-minded and very observant, making her an excellent educator. I firmly believe the natural healing ability of our body, and the importance to listen and learn how our body functions. Amber showed me to how to observe the changes within my cycle. She was not shy to share her knowledge; helped me to clear a few misunderstanding from just reading the book and practicing on my own. She is so GOOD!! She is doing an awesome deed helping women to take charge of our fertility. I felt so grateful and EMPOWERED walking out of her session. What's more to ask?! read more

Priceless! Amber's Fertility Awareness Method class series changed my life. I say this with no exaggeration. The knowledge she shared was completely new information to me, and I come from a pretty standard college-educated family. I learned things about the female body that I never knew were possible. You CAN be in control, you CAN know your body, and CAN be in touch with nature of your cycles and your fertility. Yes, this is perfect for women who do NOT want to get pregnant, as well as women, who are trying to conceive. Once you learn what happens to your body during the cycle you can use the knowledge in any way YOU need! The class is 100% personalized in that. This method is crucial for everyone to know, but a great teacher is what makes it stick. The amount of personal attention each of the students received in the class was remarkable. Every question was answered (and you WILL have questions!). Wonderful handouts and supplementary materials were provided - those I will keep for the rest of my life. Once you learn how to chart with Amber's help, it is easy to continue using the method on your own. This is the most incredible investment. Purchase of a lifetime, I would like to say. Knowledge is power. Thank you, Amber, for giving me the power to step more into my healthy, beautiful, harmonized female self! read more

The phrase "Know Thy Self" takes on a whole new meaning when you apply the information taught in this course. I am so grateful that I attended the day long workshop in Oakland and even more so when Amber offered this class in an online format. Every woman and men who care about women should make themselves privy to this knowledge. Amber is a personable teacher. I admire her dedication to health, education and women. The online tool that she uses is user friendly and a delight to look at and study from. My deepest hope is that this knowledge becomes more desirable to more women. read more

I feel very blessed to have met Amber and have had the opportunity to work with her. Amber is a wealth of information, knowledge, experience and encouragement. My husband and I agree that she was an integral and invaluable part of my 31 hour home birth. During labor she knew exactly what foods and drinks to provide, and suggested positions to make me feel as comfortable as possible. Her words of encouragement and visualization moved me past the toughest part of labor and helped me birth my little girl. I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Amber and Alexis. They are the type of people you can always count on and with whom you wish to be lifelong friends. read more

Every woman should treat herself with Mayan massage: once in a lifetime or make it part of health care. Rejuvenating treatment for women of all ages. Mayan massage by Amber relieves back pain, increases energy level, relaxes, and makes me feel like a brand new person. I decided to get it few times a year or more often if possible. Amber is very pleasant, attentive, and knowledgable. She adjusts massage to state of health. I got it during pregnancy, prior labor, shortly after delivery, and now get Mayan massage to as part of my woman health care/treatment. read more

I saw Amber for Maya Massage throughout my pregnancy and within a couple of appointments I started referring to her as my "pregnancy wizard". After a fairly straightforward pregnancy I ended up with sudden hypertension and had a very difficult induction of labor that required every possible intervention and honestly should have ended in C-section, but once labor started we had a quick vaginal birth that only required 13 minutes of pushing. I genuinely believe the work she did in encouraging the baby's position played a huge part in this. But even more important to me was the unending advice she provided throughout my pregnancy. She spent a significant amount of time during each appointment talking with me about how I was feeling, both physically and mentally. She recommended supplements, books, classes, online resources, other practitioners and even helped me find the perfect doula. Without her guidance I would have been completely lost and would have had a very different experience. I'm so glad I found Amber and would recommend her services to anyone. read more

When my wife first said "I want a Doula" I was confused and a little insulted. We were 7 weeks through a 12 week class on the Bradley Method (natural childbirth) and I was feeling like I could deliver our baby on my own in my living room... if given the chance. After some discussion I decided that it wouldn't hurt to do some interviews since my wife felt a doula was something that would be of great support to our process. When we met Amber we both felt an immediate connection and trust in her ability to take both of us through the birth process. We chose her as our doula and continued to experience her care and confidence in her work during all of our following conversations. Amber was very helpful when choosing certain aspects of our birth plan, giving pros and cons of each decision to be made and conveying a sense of support regardless of what path we would have chosen. Our laboring experience took a few turns that we were not originally expecting. My wife ended up needing to be induced at the hospital which was very different from our plan to labor at home for as long as possible. We were in the hospital for 36 hours prior to active labor...during which time there were multiple decisions that needed to be made. Although we didn't need Amber to physically be with us... she helped us make several decisions regarding the induction process via the phone over the 36 hour time period. It was extremely helpful to have her knowledge and support during a time when there were so many decisions to be made that we had not prepared for. Amber showed up at the hospital shortly after we called for more physical support and immediately got to work helping my wife and I. She utilized various techniques (positioning, massage, water etc.) to make contractions as productive as possible while also helping to alleviative the pain. Amber and I worked as a team to support my wife and at the end of the day we had an all natural labor and delivery. I can honestly say that I don't think we would have had such a positive experience without her. Even though we had learned many of the techniques she was using...her experience was invaluable. It was an amazing feeling to know that we had the natural childbirth experience that we had wanted even though we had come up against some things that were unexpected. I couldn't help but feel that we had just had a visit from this birthing super woman who swooped in, saved the day and flew off to go and help others! I strongly recommend choosing Amber as your SUPER doula and wish you the best of luck with your birthing experience. read more

As I sit down to write a testimonial for Amber, one month after the birth of our beautiful daughter, I find myself searching the memory banks to recall a passage from the Bhagavad Gita (a Hindu scripture) that I heard in a yoga class earlier this year. The exact words escape me so I shall paraphrase as follows, "The highest good that one can achieve is to do the work that comes naturally." Amber is the living embodiment of this ideal. She was born to help bring babies into the world. As my wife's pregnancy progressed and we started to think about the preferred birthing experience for our first child, it became clear that we wanted to find a doula to assist us with the process. We asked friends and colleagues for recommendations and wound up at a Meet-the-Doulas event at Natural Resources where we met a number of warm, professional, experienced women who could have filled the role capably. We were drawn to Amber from among the large group for a number of reasons: she has an incredibly calm presence, a wealth of experience delivering babies in all sorts of circumstances, and a strong background as a ballet dancer and body-worker that has given her great insight into the mechanics of the female body. Ultimately, what we found in Amber was not an assistant but a partner in the truest sense of the word. She became the crucial third member of our team, and in our pre-partum meetings her presence put us at ease as she helped to educate us about our choices and to plan for the birth. In all of our interactions it felt as if we were dealing with an old friend that we had known all of our lives, a friend that was meant to be there for us at this important stage in our journey. When my wife finally went into labor, ten days after her due date, Amber was there for us at every moment of the nearly 40-hour process. From our initial phone calls in the middle of the night to answer our questions and assuage our concerns as labor began, to lovingly holding our just-born baby girl, Amber was the consummate caring, compassionate professional every step of the way. While my wife labored at home Amber was there to help her with positioning, to offer hands-on bodywork, to draw a bath and pour warm water over her as she sat in the tub, to make a smoothie, and seemingly to do anything that either of us could have wanted. Once we arrived at the hospital Amber proved to be even more valuable. She transformed our room with soft lighting and relaxation CDs, was extremely professional when working with the hospital staff, and continued to attend to our every need. When my wife's labor stalled at 4:00 am, after nearly 30 hours, St. Lukes called in our OBGYN from home and she recommended that my wife have an epidural. Because Amber knew that this was something my wife really did not want, she helped us come up with a less-invasive alternative that ultimately resulted in a more natural, healthy birth that was in line with our preferences. (The OB's suggestion of an epidural should in no way reflect negatively on St. Lukes, they knew our preference was for a natural child birth and did not suggest any drugs or interventions until labor stalled and they became concerned that my wife could be forced into a caesarian section due to maternal exhaustion--something they seek to avoid at all costs.) While my wife's labor was clearly long and difficult, she and I both view it as very much of a positive experience, due in no small part to Amber's incredible presence throughout. I can confidently say that Amber made a huge difference in our birth story, and that it would have been much more difficult for us without her help. If you are looking for a doula, I highly recommend choosing Amber. Words fail to do her justice, so meet her for a cup of tea to introduce yourself and get to know her, and you'll begin to get a sense of why she is the perfect partner to help with your baby's entry into the world. read more

Amber is a real gem! At 40 weeks of pregnancy I went to see her because my baby was hanging out in a posterior position which meant that if I wanted a natural childbirth I would have to navigate back labor. This can be a very uncomfortable labor. Amber, with incredible skill and gentleness, was able to use a rebozo technique that in 10 minutes encouraged my babe to be once again in an optimal birthing position! I was so relieved. And then she gave me an incredible Maya abdominal massage to encourage labor. The massage is gentle, non-invasive and very relaxing. I left Amber's office feeling open and relaxed. She was so present and caring with me. I highly recommend working with her! read more

The moment we met Amber we clicked. She has a sweet, fun loving, and yet thoughtful personality and is very committed to her work. We found her very reassuring, and her gentle encouragement helped us to build our confidence in the lead-up to the birth. At the birth itself Amber was amazing. Pierre was very keen to be as involved as he could be and Amber totally respected this - standing back when she saw that we were managing, stepping in when she could help. It was an awesome birth team. The midwife at St Luke's who attended our birth, who had over 16 years of experience, was very impressed with how Amber worked and supported us. I can only say that Amber was like a sister to me - always by my side, wiping my brow, anticipating my every need. She was our guide - someone we trusted completely. Her wisdom and strength helped us get over some rough terrain. Thank you, Amber Dawn, for helping to bring our beautiful boy into this world. We will always be grateful. Alice & Pierre read more

Amber is an awesome doula. Amber was originally our backup doula. We had met with her a liked her a lot, but went with another doula (Shannon Padlog). But when the day came for our baby to come out, our primary doula was at another birth, (blame the full moon) so Amber came to our side to help. We originally went with another doula because we felt Amber was more towards the 'Feeling' end of the 'Thinking/Feeling' spectrum. My wife an I tend to be pretty analytical and wanted a doula who could address our (my) concerns in early pregnancy. (Shannon did a stellar job at that). What should have been obvious: Childbirth is not a /thinking/ exercise. Amber was an incredible calming and strengthening presence during my wife's labor. She always seemed to have the perfect thing to say to help my wife through a contraction wave. She also kept up with me to let me know what was coming and make sure that I was ready for next steps. She made great suggestions for positions and things to try as we progressed. While we had a few complications, we were able to have the natural childbirth we had hoped for. I think we had a pretty easy labor, but it was great to have Amber at our side to help us through it. I would encourage anyone looking for doula services to consider working with her. read more

I highly recommend Amber for prenatal belly massages. Very talented massaging skills - as if she can feel what my body wants. She did some back, feet and shoulder massages too on me and all felt great. Besides you can learn a lot from her about the women's body and the baby's development in pregnancy and labor. She is a good "mentor" or "coach" too if you need someone to help you do what you need to do to prepare for childbirth. I am happy about the time we spent together and how she prepared my mind and body for labor. I am so happy she is here at Seattle to help me with my labor - there is almost no other places I know of here that do abdominal prenatal massages! read more

She is a must if you want remarkable care! Her work is worth every penny and more. Its powerful coaching plus amazing bodywork wrapped into one. If you are pregnant or have had children and have any odd physical complaints around your torso or pelvis she is your lady. She has a deep understanding of the woman's body, is an amazing healer, has a lot of juicy tools for creating a life that is full, vibrant, connected to your heart. read more

I whole heartedly recommend hiring Amber Hallet as your doula. Amber helped us deliver our first child, a healthy little girl named Macie, and we would have been lost without her. When I went into labor, we called our doula and found out that she was already at another delivery and would not be able to attend our delivery! Yikes! She assured us that she would find an amazing doula to help us through the labor. But as you can imagine, I was pretty concerned about who would be joining us for the birth. Little did I realize that this was fate stepping in to help me have a healthy delivery. We are SO thankful that we had Amber at the delivery as she was a much better fit than our original doula. Amber arrived in our hospital room, and I immediately felt at ease with her. In her calm and gentle way, she was able to make me more comfortable, reassure my husband, and to create a warmer atmosphere in the room. My husband is actually a physician who has spent years working in hospitals and has even assisted in the delivery of a few babies. Since this was our first child, we did not know exactly WHY we needed a doula, but we were confident that it would help make the situation an easier experience for everyone. And in case you are still wondering - YES, you need a doula! Doula's are there primarily for the mothers, however, they are also indispensible to the fathers. Amber made sure that my husband knew how to support me throughout the process and could interpret some of the subtler twists and turns of labor (of which there are many). My husband was originally a skeptic about hiring a doula and now is a firm believer. He even strongly recommends hiring a doula to any patient that asks these days. Amber's background in body work meant that she was able to provide massage and pressure in just the right place during the labor which makes such a huge difference. She was great with the hospital staff - always respectful and courteous while being persistent on those issues of importance. While Amber has a calm presence, she is also very strong when the time comes. Amber coached me through 3 hours of pushing using both encouraging words as well as providing instruction for how and when to push. She made sure that I had enough fluids and sugars to keep me going, reacted quickly if I needed to move or adjust and made sure that my husband knew exactly how he could help. My little one was actually not descending in an ideal position. She was slightly posterior which meant that I was not dilating and was experiencing painful back labor. Since I was not dilating after 14 hours of labor, I was started on ptosin and an epidural to help labor progress. This was the moment when Amber's wealth of experience played an integral role in the safe delivery of my little girl. Amber is experienced in the practice of turning babies during labor (this is something few doulas and even midwives practice) and this knowledge was the key to my safe delivery. Amber and my husband (with Amber's direction) performed some simple maneuvers to encourage the baby's head to descend into the correct position above my cervix. We believe that these maneuvers shifted the baby's head into the right position as I started dilating more rapidly, my contraction pattern normalized, and ultimately Macie was born in an anterior position (the correct position). Amber was also great a repositioning me during the entire length of labor to encourage the baby to rotate. With these simple techniques, we believe that Amber saved me from having to get a c-section. AMAZING! Cannot recommend her enough!! She is great! read more

I did not know what to expect from Maya abdominal massage, but having known Amber as my birth doula (she no longer provides doula services), I knew it would be wonderful. I have had three massages with Amber: one while pregnant to prepare for the birth, one postnatal which included a steam, and one just to treat myself. They were all a bit different, but all got my body into a better alignment, and released tension, while honoring my body and what it is capable of. I highly recommend it. Amber is so calming and supportive, it is very therapeutic to be with her. Check out her website for more information about the massages. Enjoy! read more

Amber is goddess of women health. I decided to get Maya abdominal massage at least a few times per year. First time I got it in the middle of pregnancy, then prior delivery, shortly after giving birth, and later during regular state of body. Amber's treatment literally puts me back together: lower back tension disappears, shoulders feel released, hormones get balanced. Not to mention pleasant feeling during massage and warmth after interaction with Amber. I certainly recommend massage to woman of any age and hormonal level. I had my mom visit Amber and she was absolutely impressed. Amber has very gentle approach, strong hands, and uplifted spirit. read more

I made an appointment for Maya Abdominal Massage with Amber Dawn to help turn my baby that was in a breech position for the second time at 37 weeks. Not only did the massage feel amazing but my baby turned to a head down position within 24 hrs, right before I was scheduled to have an external cephalic version (manual turning of fetus) done!! I was thrilled to not have to go through what can be a painful procedure and so thankful for knowledgeable care. read more

I participated in Amber's first ever Fertility Awareness Method class at Natural Recourses. I've been charting my cycles for several months and thought I had a pretty solid grasp of the fundamentals, until I met Amber! She provided a wealth of new information and knowledge that comes only with experience, deep education, and clear love of the subject matter. I would highly recommend taking her class if you're looking for natural & reliable birth control, to conceive, or interested in gaining more data/insights on how your amazing female body functions. Thank you Amber! read more

Excellent support during my labor which luckily was very smooth. She happened to have met our nurse at a baby shower previously do they got along swimmingly. It was like I had two nurses at my side telling me and my husband who was a complete mess what to do. I pushed for a few minutes and it was done. Amber made it stress free and she knew what was important and what wasn't and she was a great partner to support us in the process. read more

Amber is solid and capable, but also sweet, funny and artistic. Everything from her website to contract and the beautiful gift bag that our placenta pills and cord came in; she clearly operates with great attention to detail and beauty. Most importantly, her finesse and poise at the birth was a gentle breathe of fresh air. Amber has the kind of grace that birth requires. Meeting up for a postpartum visit was a delight as she helped us relive the details of that magnificent day. Amber provided us with every request of her doula service and so much more. read more

I LOVED Amber's fertility class. I love her as a teacher, she has equal depth of passion and wisdom. I love the information, I wish I knew the details about the cycles of my body from the beginning. I want all women, especially younger women to know this about their bodies. Thank you Amber read more

If you have a uterus, Amber has some magic to share with you! I recently had the pleasure of attending her Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) class series for "Eco-Birth Control" and it was incredible. Amber gives you all the information you need to feel confident charting your cycles so you truly know your body, when your fertile and when you are not and how to use this safe and effective form of birth control. I had been on hormonal birth control for years and wanted to stop putting chemical hormones in my body (which effectively shut off your natural hormones and your womanhood!) and FAM was the answer. I read Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which got me started, but didn't give me a thorough understanding of how fertility works and how to most effectively chart during my cycle. Amber gave me the tools I needed to do just that. Even if you are not planning to use Fertility Awareness Method for birth control, gaining a deep understanding of how your body and fertility functions in not only empowering but extremely important and fascinating. This should just be basic information that we all grow up knowing as women! I can't believe it took me until my late twenties to figure it all out. And if you are trying to get pregnant, Amber teaches FAM for conception as well! She also offers Maya Abdominal Massage which I have really enjoyed! For the maya abdominal massage has played a big role in getting my very irregular cycles more regular! Yay! Thank you Amber, you are truly a gifted teacher and healer! read more

Amber was amazing! I found out my baby was breech at 39 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I had a quick natural birth with my first baby, and desperately wanted to avoid a C section with my second. After an unsuccessful version, twice a day chiropractic appointments, acupuncture, inversions at home, everything I could possibly do to try to turn this baby, I found Amber. I emailed her and received a response within a couple hours, she detailed which techniques she would be doing and even suggested my husband come along so he could learn how to do them. The appointment was great, it was very relaxing and it was clear Amber knew what she was doing. I even emailed her a few times after the appointment to ask questions and she always responded promptly. My husband and I continued the techniques at home for a few days before we scheduled one more version attempt. I scheduled an appointment with Amber on the morning of the second version to make sure we created as much room to turn as we possibly could. As you can imagine, I was nervous, but Amber was amazing. I had my version later that day, and am so happy to say it was smooth, quick, and successful! I have no doubt that the work Amber did allowed my baby to turn. A few days later, I had a wonderful water birth! I would recommend Amber to anyone and everyone that is pregnant. I wish I had found her sooner, I am positive I would have avoided the last minute chaos. read more

Highly recommend Amber-she is a truly wonderful Doula.

I've been reading and studying my fertility for years, and even charting my cycle so I wasn't expecting to learn much. I was so wrong! The knowledge Amber shared was mind blowing. I understand my body and my self in a whole different way, and made some crucial adjustments in my lifestyle to improve my health and my fertility. Take her class! read more

I interviewed a number of doulas before choosing Amber. I found her very grounding from our first meeting and my husband and I were both impressed and comforted by Amber's extensive experience. I knew that she would be able to handle (and help me handle) whatever my birth turned out to be. And we could not have been more right. Our birth experience veered from our ideal scenario almost immediately and Amber offered us guidance to adapt while knowing when to let us make decisions on our own. Despite needing to change some of our expectations around what the birth would be like, I labored and delivered without an epidural, which was something I really wanted to do. I can say with certainty that this never would have been possible without Amber. When I was close to giving up, she would simply say "Can we try --- first" and I always felt like I could. Her sense of what I needed was almost always right. I also credit Amber with helping to create an environment where my husband and I could maintain a deep and positive connection throughout the birth experience. It was wonderful to have Amber with us immediately after our son was born to help us get started with breast feeding and feel like we still had support after the crescendo of birth had passed. I will never forget how delicious and nourishing the Odwalla Superfood she gave me tasted when I was so spent. We made a great choice in having Amber as our doula and I am grateful to have had an empowering birth experience with her expert help. read more

I cannot imagine the birth of my son Dylan without Amber. It's been two months since Dylan's birth. There is much to the tale of our birth experience and I'm not quite up to the task of sharing it on Yelp. I do want to share that Amber is strong, calm, encouraging, tender, smart, knowledgeable and loving. She worked beautifully with my husband through hours of challenging back labor as my support team giving me everything I needed before I knew I needed it. I cherish the memory of Dylan's birth and Amber is a significant part of that memory. My husband and I wholeheartedly and lovingly endorse her as a doula. read more

As it is just a week and a half until my son turns one, I find myself reflecting on his birth and my experience with Amber is what stands out as the single most important factor in my empowered and supported labor and birth experience. When we met, Amber immediately seemed competent, very experienced, kind, and passionate. I was pregnant with my second child and hopeful for a home birth after transferring to the hospital with my first for non-medical reasons (I was tired and scared). I had done a lot of healing around this planned home birth that ended up in the hospital, but I still held on to the possibility that maybe I just wasn't strong enough to have a home birth. When labor began, Amber was very attentive and checked in with my partner by phone and text often. She was eager to be there the moment I was ready--as second labors are often much faster than the first. When she said she thought it was time to come over after hearing me during a contraction on the phone, I couldn't believe it. How did she know... When she arrived, she and my partner quickly found a rhythm for how to support me--and Amber was extremely supportive and respectful when I wanted my partner in a certain place near me while she took a more peripheral role. When it was time for the birth tub, she took on a dutiful and focused mood to get everything ready for me just right. And once in, as my labor began to intensify (and thus my social pretenses dropped away), she didn't bat an eyelash while feeding me chicken soup and boiled eggs. I have never been fed by another grown woman before or since then--but I must say, that level of intimacy is beyond nourishing. To let go at that level--to know that someone is there for you so completely and to feel no need to put on a show... That's what I needed to truly let go and be in my labor and I don't think that I could have done it with just anyone. Amber has a special skill that allows her to be very close and intimate without feeling in your face--and knows just what to say. When I was laying on the couch during transition and throwing up, she stroked my hair away from my face and brought me comfort. And just before spontaneous pushing occurred and I was really resisting the pain and intensity of the surges, she gave me the perfect mantra that allowed me to embrace my body's urge to bear down--and then I began pushing spontaneously, which was one of my biggest goals in healing from the last birth where my pushing was coached and felt very unnatural. When I birthed my son, I needed a couple minutes to recuperate before I could lay down and hold him and Amber was there to support me emotionally and help me feel confident that whatever I needed was normal and understandable. Once I was laying down and holding my baby, she stayed with a hand on my forehead and comforted me that way while I was stitched up. I have never felt so completely supported, loved, and cared for by a non-family member. I am so appreciative of what Amber gave me in my labor and birth. She is very specially gifted as a doula. If to anyone besides myself and my own body's wisdom, I owe my idyllic home birth experience to her-- as she was the one who helped me find my strength and courage. Everyone was awesome, but she is the one I would bring with me in the proverbial life boat if I was about to give birth. And without being asked, she picked up our camera and took some very precious photos of the birth--and of our brand new family of four that I will treasure for always. I know a lot of doulas and Amber is experienced, professional, and innately talented at providing emotional and physical comfort to the laboring mother. I could not be more grateful. read more

My husband and I are very glad that we had Amber as our doula. We felt the right energy from her from the get-go. She is gentle, calm, and grounded. She is a good listener and a wonderful communicator. She took her time to understand our priorities, anxieties and wishes with our labor. Before we met her, though I wanted to have a natural childbirth, I was very scared of it. After a couple meetings with her, she replaced my fear with excitement. She helped my husband and I connect better and I gained a deeper trust in her each time we met. Her philosophy on birthing is wonderful and we are glad that we followed it. Our labor was something that we couldn't even dream of. Not only was it quick, easy, and natural, I actually felt high from each surge. Our labor took 13 hours. The first 8 hours was very mild. It then progressed so quickly that by the time we decided to go to the hospital, I was already pushing. There was no chance for medical interventions. I gave birth within 45 minutes of arriving at the hospital. During the labor, we experienced the most intimate, intense and magical moments of our lives. There was no better way to welcome our daughter to this world. Needless to say, we highly recommend Amber as a doula. read more

I delivered in December '14 and Amber was our doula. We hired her at the last minute (as part of a team with Alexis Cohen) because we had been undecided about whether or not we should even use a doula. I now tell my family and friends that it was the best money we've ever spent. During our planning meetings she offered helpful suggestions and insights that we had not considered. She made my partner feel supported and valuable from the beginning of our relationship together. My husband and I believe that without her, we could not have had our intervention-free birth. Amber has a very intuitive presence and was so incredibly respectful and encouraging. In the delivery room, she skillfully offered suggestions on how to assist progress. She was a great advocate-- in the haze of labor, I always turned to Amber for reassurance that the doctor/nurses' suggestions were appropriate. Her presence gave me the confidence to trust my body in an exhausting and overwhelming experience. Amber is amazing and we'll forever talk about her when we share our birth story with others. I am disappointed she won't be continuing her doula services but am glad to know she will be offering Bay Area women invaluable services through her Maya Abdominal practice. read more

I received my first Mayan Abdominal massage from Amber when I was just about 2 weeks past "due" with my son. She is warm, knowledgeable, kind and present. The massage was a deep, loving and very effective way of helping my body know it was time to release my baby (I had him, quite swiftly, the following day!!!) Months later, I saw her again for the postpartum healing ritual which was an amazing way to re-set my body after birth and wrap up the pregnancy. Now, I am back to see Amber to support healthy cycles as my wife and I begin the process of trying to conceive a second child. I highly recommend inviting Amber to support any part of your pregnancy process through her healing work...your childbearing experience will be richer for it. read more

Amber provided more information in one hour than I have received in 20 years, regarding my suspected health diagnosis. She took the time to connect the dots for all my symptoms and diagnoses, and outlined a plan to get to the bottom of it all and manage the pain. The support and information provided was invaluable and made me feel like I had a path to managing my pain and improving my symptoms for the first time ever. The bodywork was amazing. So lucky to have stumbled upon her. read more

I took Amber's class Know Your Cycle 101. It truly lit up something in me. I think I wrote down nearly every word said, and then felt really moved to ask my closest girl group to meet up after work over coffee and I read my notes to them and how it made me feel. We had some of the more profound conversations about womanhood I've ever had. We all loved it so much, that we're going to meet regularly to keep talking about it. I'm looking at my body in a new way, I'm looking at my community of women in a new way, and I'm looking at my love life in a new way. I didn't expect it, but I ended up processing some old relationships through writing during this past cycle. I was shocked at how much stuff wanted to be released and how long I'd been carrying it. I am craving more classes! Anything Amber could offer, I'll gladly sign up for! read more

Amber gave us invaluable support during the challenging birth of our third child,. We're so glad that she was with us at the birth to remind me to breath through the pain, tell me when it was ok to push and help suggest good positions for labor.. She has a great deal of knowledge about labor and can help with anything from planning what to take to the hospital or what to include in your birth plan to things like placenta encapsulation and dietary advice. She also visits during the postpartum period to go through the labor experience and to help explain any interventions that were necessary. I really believe that having her with us helped prevent me from needing a c-section and would recommend her to anyone looking for a great doula. read more

At just over 39 weeks pregnant, with my belly still very high, I began to fear that my baby a. wasn't in an optimal birth position and b. was going to go past term because he hadn't dropped yet. These little worries can become huge fears when you're very pregnant and very hormonal. Julia, one half of my doula duo from Birth Focused, recommended that I visit Amber for Mayan belly massage. I'm so glad I did! Amber's treatment was fantastic. She reassured me that my baby was in a good position - even guiding my hands to feel his different body parts so I could understand exactly where he was - and gave me an incredibly relaxing belly massage designed to encourage the baby towards labor. Furthermore, she talked me down from the mental anxiety I had built up worrying about his position and got me into a positive and calm head space. When I arrived home after my appointment, my husband couldn't believe how happy and relaxed I was, and he was blown away by how visibly and dramatically my belly had dropped after the visit. I went into labor three days later and naturally delivered a healthy baby boy. I highly recommend Amber and only regret that I didn't start seeing her earlier in my pregnancy. read more

I hired Amber and Alexis after they were personally recommended by a coworker, and all I can say is "Thank god!" I knew I wanted a doula there to help me give birth, but I had no idea how much I would rely on them when the time came. Thanks to an unreliable partner, my entire emotional and mental world came crashing down shortly before I went into labor with my breech baby. Amber and Alexis were incredibly understanding throughout the pregnancy and went above and beyond to make sure I was doing alright. When the time came, Amber was by my side in the OR, keeping me calm and walking me through the procedures. She took beautiful birth photos so that I can remember my delivery as a joyous occasion as opposed to feeling scared and alone. More than anything, she managed to protect my vulnerable state with my unfaithful partner and unaware family in the room, so that I could focus on bringing my beautiful baby girl into a less-stressful world. While nothing went according to plan, I am so grateful that Amber was there (and Alexis in spirit!) because she was such a calming influence on my chaotic life, smoothing all the rough waters with that steady and supportive voice that never wavered, diplomatically taking the place of my partner without causing more drama and stress, and guiding me through the most important event of my life with complete confidence that despite everything, my daughter and I would be perfect. Thank you thank you thank you. read more